This story offers a helpful step-by-step description of the Expo Phase II construction process, mainly as it applies to the city of Santa Monica, which will have three stations at the line’s western end. Up first: “Soil sampling, surveying and exploration” to determine where underground utilities — i.e. electricity, gas and water — are located and need to be moved to make way for the track beds. This process will take roughly a year, at which point you’ll start seeing the heavy infrastructure being built. Because this work will likely require the temporary closure of streets, now is a good time to remind you to follow the Expo Authority on Twitter and “like” it on Facebook, so you can receive important updates.

If I recall correctly, this video made the rounds a few months ago, but it’s worth another look. In it, software developer Stefan Wehmeyer describes his Google Maps-based tool called Mapnificent that shows where you can travel via public transit in a given amount of time. Among other things, it seems particularly useful for finding a place to live that provides easy access to all parts of your city in a convenient transit trip. The good news: Mapnificent is now available in Los Angeles, so have at it! The bad news: It’s not clear if the L.A. version includes any or all municipal bus operators, so take it with a grain of salt for now.

I’m a little bummed none of Metro’s stations made the list — no love for Hollywood/Vine? — but the selections in the list are nonetheless fantastic. On one hand you have Moscow’s ornate frescoes from the mid-20th Century, and on the other there’s Barcelona’s Tron-esque white panels and neon lights. It’s interesting to see how these disparate cities transform otherwise functional underground caverns, or in Stockholm’s case, just paint over the exposed bedrock.